Shooting Advice

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Have they acknowledged your grievance and agreed to take steps to prevent a re-occurrence?

 

To quote the reply Mike "we will do all we practically can" which is about as good as it gets I guess. The difficulty I foresee is that there are favoured firing positions either side of a wooded area surrounding a lake - perfect Mallard territory. The difficulty may be that the lake is approx 200m from the house so firing from the far side towards the house is less than 300m which is minimum safe recommend distance. We'll have to wait and see what happens next.

[adowning7]

If they are Duck shooting the shot raining down should also be non toxic - big debates at the moment surrounding the use of lead shot for wildfowling so they could land themselves in hot water if they are ignoring the legislation and you get the authorities sniffing around.

 

We get the shot problem very rarely but the worse one was someone using heavy shot (I think 4's) on high pheasants which smashed a windscreen and dented the bonnet on a brand new Range Rover parked nearby which didn't go down too well.

 

Best of luck with neighbourly relations, never straightforward

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

I'm feeling like I've "ranted it all out" which, along with hoping for any practical suggestions, was the main reason for posting it up. I'm getting my balance back now, slowly but surely.

[Mr Lee]

To quote the reply Mike "we will do all we practically can" which is about as good as it gets I guess. The difficulty I foresee is that there are favoured firing positions either side of a wooded area surrounding a lake - perfect Mallard territory. The difficulty may be that the lake is approx 200m from the house so firing from the far side towards the house is less than 300m which is minimum safe recommend distance. We'll have to wait and see what happens next.

Backstop, backstop, backstop....Something we are always looking at whether we are on rifles or the shotguns. Your shot as said shouldn't leave the area you are shooting in. We have one field on a neighbouring farm that we don't shoot near or towards due to horses and a bungalow next to it with a bunny hugger in. It's not worth the hassle but also not a safe shot.

 

I've had shot rain down on me before as a beater and it's not exactly comfortable when it hits bare skin. Certainly wouldn't want it in my eyes.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Backstop, backstop, backstop...

 

I've had shot rain down on me before as a beater and it's not exactly comfortable when it hits bare skin. Certainly wouldn't want it in my eyes.

 

That's why I raged, it's not about me, I was in the garden with daughter.

[Mr Lee]

That's why I raged, it's not about me, I was in the garden with daughter.

 

Rightly soo too! I don't begrudge anybody enjoying what they do but having a bit of respect for those around you goes a long way. If that means not shooting a certain area to save hassle then so be it.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Rightly soo too! I don't begrudge anybody enjoying what they do but having a bit of respect for those around you goes a long way. If that means not shooting a certain area to save hassle then so be it.

 

That's the bottom line - thumb up!

[Dean Lofthouse]

One problem the shoot may have is the "guns" taking notice of the safety brief. If they are having new guns on each shoot day they can't vet everyone of them.

 

One gun may be undesirable and not invited back, problem is you don't know till you have seen them shoot.

 

The brief can say not to shoot in a certain direction, or take birds infront before they are overhead. Whether they abide by the instruction in the heat of the action is another matter.

 

This is one of the reasons we have member guns on our shoot that are vetted and are known to be safe. I still brief the guns before each drive, what direction the birds will come from, where the next gun is, houses, footpaths, arcs of fire etc etc etc.

 

Th only problems we have is normally from guest guns

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

It's a "closed" "old school" shoot Dean, no guests! Just the "good ol' boys" and that's probably the root cause of the problem, "I've been doing this for years" "I own as far as the eye can see" sort of brigade.

[roboted]

I fully understand your concerns KJ and comments on here.

If for example they are shooting towards your ground at an angle of 60 degree above horizontal and can see clear sky or they are taking overhead birds heading towards your ground with their backs to you, it may well be deemed as a safe shot.........however that does not detract from the "nuisance" or potential hazard situation.

Any shoot has a responsibility for safety but also a responsibility towards the feelings of their neigbours.

In brief they should be showing good manners to all...that includes all those involved with the shoot and of course their neigbours.

I would suggest that you try and have a meeting with the Shoot Captain over a brew or a small libation at your place and point out to him your concerns but so that he can see the situation from the receiving end so to speak,without recourse to Law/BASC guidelines in the first instance.

Any shoot worth their salt will take heed after a friendly chat and re-arrange drives/gun positions so as not to cause a problem to their neigbours.....

I'm speaking as an ex-keeper and runner of shoots.....I have had this problem before,more than once over the years....and having been made aware have always settled things amicably.....has caused a few headaches on shoot days at times but heh-ho it has also involved having the crack with the neigbours over sloe gin and frutcake

 

Not everyone that shoots or is involved with shoots is a "gentleman" but they should behave as such.....if not there chosen sort shoul be crochet/needlework/knitting. If they have the true interest of the sport in their hearts then it will work out.....if not